Seat weight detecting subsystem

• US 8,930,084 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2010
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Masataka, Kondo, Masayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Figueroa, Jaime
• Application Number:
  US13/201,891
• Publication Number:
  US 20110301782A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,589 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/45, 439/76.1, 180/268, 180/271, 180/273, 180/282, 280/735, 280/801.1, 340/667
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/015 including means for detecting the presence or position of passengers, passenger seats or child seats , and the related safety parameters therefor, e.g. speed or timing of airbag inflation in relation to occupant position or seat belt use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0152 using strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4142 for controlling activation of safety devices, e.g. airbag systems electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements in case of vehicle accidents B60R21/015

Abstract

It is provided a subsystem for seat weight detection, the configuration of which enables improved assemblability and economization of space in layout. A seat weight detecting subsystem is provided for each seat 7 mounted inside a vehicle. Each seat weight detecting subsystem 4 includes weight detection sensors 8 which are installed in a seat 7, and a power supplying member 9 which is connected to the weight detecting sensors 8, a power supply 5, an ECU 3 and the like. The power supplying member 9 is provided with an FPC 10 and a seat side ECU functional portion 11 that is integratedly attached to the FPC 10. The seat-side ECU functional portion 11 includes sensor connecting sections 13, a signal receiving section 14, a data generating section 15, and a data outputting section 16.

Claims

1. A seat weight detecting subsystem provided for each seat in a vehicle and for outputting weight detection data which is necessary for a processing operation of an ECU in a main system, the seat weight detecting subsystem comprising:

a plurality of weight detecting sensors; and

a power supplying member that is connected to a power supply,

wherein the power supplying member includes;

a FPC which has circuits forming desired routes, and is formed so as to have a size which corresponds to at least arrangements of all of the plurality of weight detecting sensors on the seat in the vehicle; and

a seat side ECU functional portion having;

sensor connecting sections which serve as connecting portions of the plurality of weight detecting sensors at the corresponding arrangements;

a signal receiving section which receives sensor signals from the weight detecting sensors through the sensor connecting sections;

a data generating section which generates the weight detection data based on the received sensor signals; and

a data outputting section as a portion which outputs the generated weight detection data to the ECU; and

wherein the seat side ECU functional portion is mounted to a specified position on the circuits of the FPC, and the plurality of weight detecting sensors are arranged in a bus-like arrangement,

wherein the seat side ECU functional portion includes;

a plurality of first ECU functional portions provided as many as the number of the plurality of weight detecting sensors; and

a second ECU functional portion connected to the plurality of first ECU functional portions through a common circuit in the FPC;

wherein the signal receiving section includes;

a second signal receiving section provided in the second ECU functional portion; and

first signal receiving sections which are respectively provided in the plurality of first ECU functional portions and output the received sensor signals to the second signal receiving section through the common circuit while associating the received sensor signals to the weight detecting sensors at the corresponding arrangements;

wherein the first ECU functional portion includes the sensor connecting sections and the first signal receiving section;

wherein the second ECU functional portion includes the second signal receiving section, the data generating section and the data outputting section;

wherein the FPC includes the common circuit;

wherein the second ECU functional portion is connected to one of the plurality of first ECU functional portions through first electric lines, and the one of the plurality of first ECU functional portions is connected to the other of the plurality of first ECU functional portions (24a) through second electric lines; and

wherein the first electric lines and the second electric lines are the same signal traces.

2. The seat weight detecting subsystem according to claim 1, wherein

the FPC is formed by aggregating the circuits that relate to the plurality of weight detecting sensors to the shared circuit.

3. The seat weight detecting subsystem according to claim 1, wherein

the shared circuit is configured by a power supply line which is connected to the power supply, a GND line which is connected to the ground, and a signal line.